Victoria, British Columbia · City reference

Population and growth

How many people live in Victoria, how fast that is changing, and how much of the city is built up. All figures are from Statistics Canada.

Last checked 2026-01-14 · Times shown in Pacific Time

Statistics Canada publishes two different population numbers for a city, and they measure different things. The census is a full count taken every five years, most recently in May 2021. The annual estimates are produced every year in between, using births, deaths, immigration and migration records; they are the better guide to what the population is today.

Census of Population, 2021

Population (2021)

91,867

Rank 66 in Canada by population

Change since 2016

+7.1%

From 85,792 in 2016

Private dwellings

53,070

Total dwellings, occupied or not

Land area

19 km²

Census subdivision boundary

Population density

4,722 / km²

Residents per square kilometre

Occupied dwellings

49,222

Usual residents, excludes vacant and seasonal

“Land area” and “density” use the census subdivision boundary, which is the legal municipal boundary rather than the built-up area. A city that has annexed a large rural fringe will show a low density for that reason alone.

Population estimates since 2001

These are Statistics Canada’s July 1 estimates on 2021 boundaries, so the whole series is comparable like for like. The most recent estimate is for 2025: 103,888 people. That is a compound annual growth rate of 1.51% over the previous five years.

Population estimates for Victoria, July 1 of each year (Statistics Canada table 17-10-0155)
Year	Population	Change from previous year	Five-year growth rate
2025	103,888	+811	+1.51%
2024	103,077	+2,519	+1.48%
2023	100,558	+2,018	+1.43%
2022	98,540	+2,263	+1.43%
2021	96,277	-122	+1.30%
2020	96,399	+610	+1.78%
2019	95,789	+2,121	+2.04%
2018	93,668	+1,866	+1.93%
2017	91,802	+1,566	+1.93%
2016	90,236	+1,988	+1.82%
2015	88,248	+1,675	+1.39%
2014	86,573	+1,434	+1.11%
2013	85,139	+1,717	+0.93%
2012	83,422	+958	+0.60%
2011	82,464	+121	+0.39%
2010	82,343	—	+0.60%

Where this sits

Victoria is the anchor of the Capital Regional District (CRD). For how the city compares with its neighbours and how the wider region is growing, Statistics Canada publishes census metropolitan area tables alongside the municipal ones linked below.

Official sources

Details such as fares, fees, hours and program rules change. Always confirm against the official source before acting on anything time-sensitive.